Biology:Pachygrapsus minutus
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2026) |
| Pachygrapsus minutus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Suborder: | Pleocyemata |
| Infraorder: | Brachyura |
| Family: | Grapsidae |
| Genus: | Pachygrapsus |
| Species: | P. minutus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pachygrapsus minutus A. Milne-Edwards, 1873
| |
Pachygrapsus minutus is a species of small shore crabs in the family Grapsidae.[1]
Description
Pachygrapsus minutus has a broad chitinized exoskeleton, tucked tail-like abdomen and five pairs of legs, indicative of the infraorder Brachyura.[2] It can be confused with the similar sized Pachygrapsus planifrons but is distinguishable at a closer look. It has a smooth sub-triangular carapace of 5x8 mm with no teeth on its lateral margins.[3] Its outer legs are furnished with spines and bristles and its claws are smooth, without setae on the tip. Additionally, its front is sinuous and the posterior meru has a submedian tooth.[4]
Reproduction
Like other grapsids, Pachygrapsus minutus perform precopulatory courtship rituals through olfactory and tactile cues. They are also gonochoric and males mostly transfer their sperms indirectly.[5]
Distribution and Habitat
Pachygrapsus minutus is widespread throughout the Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea to Mexican oceanic islands, and Hawaii.[6][7] It is commonly found under rocks and corals within intertidal or rocky shallow zones living among barnacles, preferably dead,[8] and oysters.[9] It can also be found within the crevices of sheer rock cliffs. However, due to its small size it is often unnoticed.[4]
Ecology
During low tides, Pachygrapsus minutus can be seen grazing algae film on rocks[4] but they also feast on organic waste, carrions, and other smaller invertebrates such as polychaetes, sponges, echinoderms, mollusks, and crustaceans [5].
References
- ↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Pachygrapsus minutus A. Milne-Edwards, 1873". https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=207539.
- ↑ Chatterjee, Anushka (2025-10-31). "True Crab - Types, Anatomy, Habitat, Diet, Lifespan, & Life Cycle" (in en-US). https://animalfact.com/true-crab/.
- ↑ "Cook Islands Biodiversity: Pachygrapsus Minutus". 2003. http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org/species.asp?id=7592.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Land, Mangrove and Freshwater Decapod Crustaceans of Mayotte Region (Crustacea Decapoda)". doi:10.5479/si.00775630.592. https://smithsonian.figshare.com/articles/Land_Mangrove_and_Freshwater_Decapod_Crustaceans_of_Mayotte_Region_Crustacea_Decapoda_/9762083.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Pachygrapsus minutus". https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Pachygrapsus-minutus.html.
- ↑ Garth, John S. (November 1, 1992). "The Brachyuran Crabs of the Revillagigedo Islands, Colima, Mexico, with Remarks on Insular Endemism in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. In: P. Unitt (Ed.), Benthic Macro-Crustaceans of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Proceedings of the San Diego Society of Natural History, 24: 1-6. San Diego Society of Natural History". https://research.nhm.org/pdfs/27989/27989.pdf.
- ↑ Poupin, Joseph; Davie, Peter J. F.; Cexus, Jean Christophe (2005-07-05). "A revision of the genus Pachygrapsus Randall, 1840 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura, Grapsidae), with special reference to the Southwest Pacific species" (in en). Zootaxa 1015 (1): 1–66. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1015.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.1015.1.1.
- ↑ Hartnoll, R. G. (November 1975). "The Grapsidae and Ocypodidae (Decapoda: Brachyura) of Tanzania" (in en). Journal of Zoology 177 (3): 305–328. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1975.tb02235.x. ISSN 0952-8369. https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1975.tb02235.x.
- ↑ Simões, Nuno; Apel, Michael; Jones, David A. (2001-04-01). "Intertidal habitats and decapod faunal assemblages (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Socotra Island, Republic of Yemen" (in en). Hydrobiologia 449 (1): 81–97. doi:10.1023/A:1017541019388. ISSN 1573-5117. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017541019388.
Wikidata ☰ Q6497576 entry
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories. (February 2026) |
 |  |
